Page 24 of The Rake I Wished For
He let out a huff of laughter. He supposed that was the best he was going to get. It was something of a miracle she’d relented that much, he supposed.
She shot him a mischievous look that made his muscles clench and his blood grow warm. “I shouldn’t have told you about it in the first place, I suppose.”
“Why did you?” he shot back.
“I…” Her eyes widened as if she was startled and then she dipped her head. “I don’t know.”
“Liar,” he muttered. But he wouldn’t push it. Truthfully, he was nearly overcome with relief that they’d found some sort of truce.
He’d never once been at odds with Jocelyn before, and he didn’tlike it one bit. It’d only been a few days of silence between them but…he’d missed her.
Which was ridiculous, obviously.
She reached for the stew a servant placed in front of her with vigor. “I do hope this change of plans wasn’t too inconvenient for you as well,” she said.
“Well, I’m not missing out on a strategic meeting with a prospective husband,” he said mildly.
Her cheeks grew pink. “I shouldn’t have told you about any of my plans, it seems.”
He shifted in his seat. Blast. They’d never kept secrets before, and he didn’t like to think she’d start now. “No, of course you should tell me.”
“So you can scold me on a veranda?”
His nostrils flared as he remembered that moment. “I won’t apologize for stopping you from doing something reckless that could not only endanger your reputation, but also your person.”
She blinked at him in surprise, and then nodded. “You’re right, I suppose. It was a silly idea, and you were right to intervene.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it. While he was glad she finally saw reason, he didn’t like hearing that tone in her voice. The girl was a fighter. He didn’t know anyone who so loved a challenge, so this note of resignation was unsettling.
“So,” she said, her expression brightening as she reached for some bread. “How long do you suppose Missus Clemens’s scarf will be by the time we reach Liam?” Her grin turned mischievous. “I bet it’ll be long enough to wrap her entire body by the time she’s done.”
“And just how would we test that?” he said, falling back into their teasing with relief.
And maybe just a little disappointment.
“Shall we wait until she’s sleeping and then wrap her in it like a mummy?” he asked.
Her laughter made his lungs cease working and his heart start to race.
It had only been a matter of days since he’d heard that laugh, but he’d missed it more than he could say.
As she chattered on about their new silly wager, he found his smile was tempered with regret.
He didn’t want to argue with Jocelyn. And he certainly didn’t want to hurt her any more than he already had. But if these past few days had taught him anything, it was that Jocelyn had secrets.
She had wishes he knew nothing about, and plans for a future that he wasn’t privy to, and…
And Harlow found he didn’t like that.
In fact, Harlow discovered—he hated it.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Jocelyn was farfrom sleepy when supper came to an end.
She found herself laughing louder, talking more, and grinning like a fool as she and Harlow fell back into their old ways.
It was a relief to feel that unwelcome tension between them vanish.
